Contrary to Mr. Brown, the Constitution’s architects were crystal clear that only Congress could direct the offensive use of the military under the Declare War Clause. Every participant in the drafting, debating, and ratification of the Constitution agreed with gospel of President George Washington who presided over the constitutional convention: “The Constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress: therefore, no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.” After World War II in testimony supporting Senate ratification of NATO, Secretary of State Dean Acheson echoed President Washington: “Under our Constitution, the Congress alone has the power to declare war.” And the War Powers Resolution of 1973 expressly states that congressional appropriations bills are no substitutes for a constitutionally required declaration of war. That’s because Congress is politically compelled to support our troops after they have been placed in harm’s way by the President.

Not a syllable in the Constitution crowns the President, the Commander in Chief, with limitless power to protect the nation, for example, playing prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner to kill any American suspected of endangering national security based on secret, unconfirmed conjecture. Members of Congress are every bit as patriotic or more than is the President. If the latter cannot persuade majorities in the House and Senate to declare war, then the presidential justification has been exposed as deficient. The war will prove a second edition of Vietnam, as is happening in Afghanistan with no light at the end of the tunnel after seventeen years of fighting. H. Res. 922 saddles Congress, not the judiciary or the president, with responsibility for war, which is what the Declare War Clause ordains.

H. Res. 922 does not target President Trump. It applies prospectively. It does not address or sanction anything President Trump has done since his inauguration.

Congressman Jones’ H. Res. 922 is a 21-gun salute to his military constituents. He believes their lives are sacred. They should not be dispatched abroad to risk that last full measure of devotion for a cause Congress has not declared is worth their supreme sacrifice.